Monday, November 07, 2016

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is prepared to strike off a number of ailments, which earlier forced pilots to be grounded, including some spinal conditions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 64th International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine on Monday, Air Marshal Pawan Kapoor, Director General Medical Services (Air), said no evidence was found that spinal deformities like Schmorl's nodes affect flying, though it was earlier thought that it may lead to fracture in case of ejection or other such situations.
Kapoor said there have been case studies where pilots with such problems have performed normally.
"We have bigger problem on the spinal deformities. We have taken a call on it after going through various evidences, national and international literature, and research we have done, we are now getting some of those pilots, who were rendered unfit for flying, and we are now taking out a new order where they will be considered for commissioning purposes," Kapoor said.
07/11/16 IANS/News18